The Mongolian way of life is one that has traditionally been defined by the practice of pastoral nomadism, a livelihood that deeply connects the Mongolian people to the land. It is a livelihood that is based upon the ability to stay mobile and adapt a herding lifestyle to the harsh climate and variable geography of Mongolia. Until recently, this tradition has sustained Mongolia; animal husbandry, cashmere production, and agriculture form the backbone of the nation’s economy. However, this way of life is endangered by the rapid economic change that is occurring in Mongolia. The free-market economy, privatization, several harsh seasons, and particularly the discovery of substantial mineral deposits have led to a departure from traditional life.

Mining is now the leading industry in Mongolia. It accounts for about 17% of the nation’s gross national product, 65% of its gross industrial product, 58% of its exports, and is a major source of foreign investment. Mongolia is home to copper, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits. The implementation of the 1997 Minerals Law, which allowed the government to take stakes in mining operations, combined with the elimination of the 10% gold tax, and the discovery of the sizeable copper and gold deposit in Oyu Tolgoi in 2001, have been instrumental in the massive increase in mineral exploration activity in Mongolia. Currently, more than 2,150 entities are registered to explore Mongolia’s resources.

The economic boost has not been without consequences. Mining has had a part in the decline of water quality, as well as increased air pollution and desertification; the industry has affected biodiversity and human health, and damaged protected areas. Many of the mining operations are located alongside river basins, headwaters of rivers, and lakes, creating pollution issues and water scarcity. In 1992, statistics showed that 10.5 % of the land in Mongolia was covered with forests; by 2006, it had declined to 6.5%. Due to the lack of regulations regarding water usage from mining, 852 rivers and 1,181 lakes in the country have dried out3.

With damage to the environment, there has been damage to the culture and livelihood of the Mongolian people.

Mongolia is one of the few countries where traditional nomadic practices have managed to survive; however, they may soon be lost. Currently, it is estimated that only about 40% of Mongolia’s population continue to practice the nomadic, pastoral, traditional way of life. Mining may have created over 12,000 job opportunities, but it has also resulted in an estimated 100,000 desperate and impoverished herders engaging in illegal artisanal and small-scale mining activities. Mongolia’s traditional nomadic way of life depends on the health of the land, and animal husbandry and environmental damage have threatened the ability to continue that bond. Many herders are leaving the pasturelands behind for urban areas and mining opportunities. What was once supplemental work during hard economic times has become the new livelihood of many. This new livelihood for the “ninja miners,” as they are commonly referred to due to the green plastic bowls they wear on their backs, destroys the environment, contributes little to the local community, and endangers Mongolia’s traditional culture. Many environmental groups are pressing for mining corporations and individual miners to practice more sustainable and socially responsible mining methods. However, a better regulatory framework also needs to be in place that safeguards the environment and Mongolia’s traditional way of life.

MEC has created e-database with collected information on mining and its effects on the country’s land and people in order to help those interested in helping the environment in Mongolia.

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